Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids activate antimicrobial component production in the intestine. However, their effects on mammary glands remain unclear. We investigated the effects of acetate and butyrate on antimicrobial component production in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) or leukocytes cultured in vitro and in mammary glands of lactating Tokara goats in vivo. Our results showed that butyrate enhanced the production of β-defensin-1 and S100A7 in MECs. Additionally, the infusion of butyrate into mammary glands through the teats enhanced β-defensin-1 and S100A7 concentrations in milk. The infusion of acetate also increased β-defensin-1 and S100A7 concentrations along with those of cathelicidin-2 and interleukin-8, which are produced by leukocytes. Furthermore, acetate promoted cathelicidin-2 and interleukin-8 secretion in leukocytes in vitro. These findings suggest that acetate and butyrate differentially upregulate antimicrobial component production in mammary glands, which could help to develop appropriate treatment for mastitis, thereby reducing economic losses and improving animal welfare in farming environments.
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